Stifyn faces the music; CELEBS TAKE UP THE BATON FOR S4C'S CHORAL CHALLENGE.
Byline: SARAH BATLEYSTIFYN Parry is a man who likes a challenge - such as organising a gala concert where Hollywood and musical royalty rub shoulders with princes and golf players, while learning how to conduct a 140-strong choir.
And not just any old choir either, but one composed of his old schoolmates, relatives, family friends and exneighbours, some of whom had never sung before.
To top it, they've got to be pitch-perfect for their first engagement - in front of S4C cameras and 1,000 people in St David's Hall, Cardiff.
Viewers will be able to vote on which of the four choirs featuring in the new series of reality programme Codi Canu is the best.
"I jumped at the chance when I was asked - I do find 'No' a difficult word," chuckles Stifyn.
"It's like going back to your roots, and seeing all your life, from babyhood to being 18, in front of you. It's surreal but then this year has seemed surreal."
He's working with conductor Geraint Roberts to create Y Rhos a'r Cylch Choir, and has been making long drives from South Wales to Rhos, Wrexham - where he grew up - for two-hour rehearsals, before heading back to Cardiff, where he now lives and runs his events management company Mr Producer. It has a galaxy of stars on its roster and is soon to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
He was relaxing after a hectic week, organising the gala concert kicking off the Ryder Cup. The show, which included Katherine Jenkins and Catherine Zeta Jones, was attended by Prince Charles and broadcast on Sky.
Codi Canu follows four new mixed community choirs as they prepare to sing and compete.
But the challenge, which starts on Tuesday, will be tougher than expected because the four conductors are famous faces who have never stood in front of a choir before. They're being trained by experienced conductors who have been successful in a number of high profile competitions.
The other teams and choirs are actor and musician Neil 'Maffia' Williams and Mari Pritchard (Ogwen a'r Cylch Choir); presenter Beti George and Eilir Owen Griffiths (Cwm Tawe Choir), and actress Donna Edwards who plays Britt in Pobol y Cwm and Delyth Medi Jones (Cwm Rhondda Choir).
Stifyn went to Rhos School, and Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham, and credits encouraging teachers at both in helping his own musical career.
He recorded an album when he was just 15, and was in a musical a year later, before attending London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, which boasts alumni such as Rhys Ifans, Daniel Craig and Bryn Terfel.
He then landed a role in C4's Brookside as Christopher Duncan - shocking a nation with the first soap opera on-screen gay kiss - before joining Les Miserables in the West End.
Stifyn, 47, added: "I had no choice in the songs - one of them is even in Latin! I don't read music, let alone Latin, but I don't feel that's a problem, because I love overcoming a challenge.
"I've been listening to the choir on my iPhone to learn the pieces and the lyrics, though I've got Owain Arwel Hughes to help me."
Beti George will conduct Cr Cwm Tawe under the watchful eye of Eilir Owen Griffiths, who conducts Cr CF1 in Cardiff.
"The Swansea Valley is home to a great choral tradition and some wonderful voices," says Beti who presents Beti a'i Phobl on BBC Radio Cymru.
"I sang in choirs when I was at university in Cardiff and Aberystwyth," she says. "But singing belongs to the past for me now - except for singing at rugby matches."
The second half of the concert will see world famous conductor, Owain Arwel Hughes, lead all the choirs as one to sing favourites such as Handel's Messiah, Va Penisero (Nabucco, Verdi), Lacrymosa (Mozart), Tangnefeddwyr (Eric Jones) and Tydi a Roddaist (Arwel Hughes).
CODI CANU Tuesday, S4C, 8.25pm, Welsh and English subtitles.s4c.co.uk/music
CAPTION(S):
Conductors in waiting Donna Edwards, Neil Williams, Stifyn Parri and Beti George Stifyn Parri is looking forward to the Codi Canu challenge
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| Title Annotation: | Features |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Daily Post (Liverpool, England) |
| Geographic Code: | 4EUUK |
| Date: | Oct 9, 2010 |
| Words: | 680 |
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